The 17 year-old defender joined Arsenal over the summer from FK Haugesund and said of his first weeks with the London giants: "I'm very pleased to have made my debut.

"I'm still getting used to English football though. It's much harder, the ball goes quicker and I feel I still need to get used to the tempo.

"The group are very kind with me. When I came here they took care of me and everybody talked to me. I'm enjoying playing the Arsenal way every day and I know it's going to be fun playing for Arsenal."

On the captaincy, Nordtveit also told arsenal.com: "It was a real honour to be captain.

"I got the message from Neil [Banfield] last week. I was a little bit shocked but I've been captain of the national team so it was OK.

"I know now I must work to keep the captaincy and hopefully I'll continue to be captain this season, and, if I'm lucky, next season too. But we take each day as it comes and go match by match, so we'll see.